I.

History of Futsal

Futsal is a sport that originated in South America in the 1930s, particularly in Uruguay and Brazil. The
term "futsal" comes from the Portuguese phrase "futebol de salão," which means "indoor soccer."

In the early years of the sport, it was played on basketball courts during the off-season, and the ball used
was smaller and heavier than a regular soccer ball. The game quickly gained popularity in South America
and spread to other parts of the world.

The first official rules of futsal were established in 1936 by Juan Carlos Ceriani in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Ceriani was a physical education teacher who wanted to create a new sport that could be played indoors
during the winter months. He developed a set of rules that included a smaller court, a smaller and
heavier ball, and a limit on the number of players per team.
Futsal continued to grow in popularity in South America throughout the 1940s and 1950s, and by the
1960s, it had spread to Europe. In the 1970s, international competitions began to be organized, and in
1989, the first FIFA Futsal World Cup was held in the Netherlands.

Today, futsal is played in over 100 countries and has its own international governing body, the
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Futsal World Cup. The sport is known for its
fast-paced, high-scoring games and is played by both amateur and professional players around the
world. Futsal is also seen as a great training tool for young soccer players, as it allows them to develop
their skills in a more confined space and under tighter pressure.